Michigan Senate Changes Our Right to Vote for Elected Officials.

Gaines Township, MI:
Today, Mr. Albert S. Abbasse squarely laid blame, yes blame, on the elected officials of the Michigan Senate for their lack of respect for the most cherished principle in a Democratic Nation and State. Our right to vote for and elect chosen officials.

On March 16, 2006, the Michigan Senate, lead by Ken Sikkema of the 28th District and Bill Hardiman of the 29th District, a co-sponsor of the legislation, voted to approve not requiring the citizens of Michigan to vote for chosen candidates but to allow county commissions to appoint many such positions. This would therefore not allow Michigan or Kent County Citizens the right to vote for our leadership and therefore remove even more of our democratically sovereign rights guaranteed under our national and State Constitution.

Following is the actual text of Senate Bill 0945 co-sponsored by Sen. Hardiman. “2) ... a county board of commissioners may by resolution combine the offices of county clerk and register of deeds in 1 office of the clerk register or separate the office of the clerk register into the offices of county clerk and register of deeds. A combination or separation of offices shall not take effect before the expiration of the current term of the affected offices”. This is a blatant attempt to remove our system of checks and balances. Further, is specifically designed wording that is prejudicial and discriminatory for the position of County Drain Commissioner, “… in a county with a population of not less than 500,000 or more than 750,000, the county board of commissioners may by resolution of the commissioners elected and serving convert the position of drain commissioner to an elected office or an appointed position.” Thus appointing a taxing authority without voter representation.

On April 27, 2006 the Kent County Board of Commissioners will bring this very issue to a public hearing. The GR Press reported on March 29, 2006, “But Kent County commissioners want him to stay (Sporte) as drain commissioner, so they have led an effort to make the position an appointed one.”

Our own elected leadership is the driving force behind the ouster to remove OUR right to elect the officials that we feel are most qualified or best suited to represent OUR needs.

This is disgraceful and tainted with hints of corruption. How many secret meetings were conducted to contrive this? It is not as though this Board has not held them. I thought actions such as this only took place in Washington.

 When we elect public officials, we elect them because we feel they will represent our needs. Some of these commissioners appear to represent their own personal needs or the needs of the moneyed few.

The position of Drain Commissioner is very important to all Michigan Communities; here is an outline of the responsibilities: The Drain Commissioner is responsible for “all water, sewers, drains, septic systems, run-off, and ditches in the County. He is responsible for millions of tax dollars. He is the final authority for decisions of eminent domain.”

Reread the last statement: “final authority for decisions of eminent domain”. You remember that, don’t you? That is the law where the Supreme Court said that your property could be taken by a local community for a mall, or a hospital or a hotel.

The County does not have the support of Abbasse on this issue. They are loathe for even attempting this.